The Skagit County Board of Commissioners convened on July 28, 2025, to discuss the ongoing update of the Critical Areas Ordinance as part of the county's compliance with the Washington State Growth Management Act. This meeting served as a public hearing to gather testimony regarding the proposed revisions to the ordinance, which aims to protect critical areas such as wetlands, aquifer recharge zones, and wildlife habitats.

The session began with a presentation outlining the process leading to the public hearing. It was noted that the county is required to update its comprehensive plans and development regulations every ten years, with the last update to the Critical Areas Ordinance occurring in February 2007. The planning commission initiated the update process with a work session on April 22, followed by a public comment period from April 21 to May 8, and a public hearing on May 6. The planning commission subsequently recommended approval of the updated ordinance with suggested amendments to the Board of County Commissioners on June 17.

The Board held a work session on July 7 to review the draft changes and the planning commission's recommendations. The second draft of the ordinance and related documents are available on the 2025 Comprehensive Plan Update Project website. The Board is expected to take possible action on the ordinance updates during their next meeting on August 4 at 10 AM.

For those unable to provide verbal testimony during the hearing, the public comment period remains open until 4:30 PM on the same day. Written comments can be submitted via mail or email, with instructions provided during the meeting. The hearing allowed for a structured format where each speaker was limited to three minutes to ensure all voices could be heard.

The meeting proceeded with public testimony, beginning with Kirk Johnson, President of the Skagit Land Trust, who expressed gratitude for the opportunity to comment on the ordinance draft. The hearing is expected to continue with additional testimonies from community members, reflecting the public's interest in the critical areas that impact Skagit County's environment and development.

As the meeting concluded, the Board emphasized the importance of community engagement in shaping the regulations that protect the county's vital natural resources. The next steps will involve reviewing the comments received and making necessary adjustments before the anticipated vote on August 4.